Blackhawks 5 - 3 Blues
Final
  for this game

Toews helps Blackhawks get by Blues

Feb 22, 2011 - 12:37 AM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Jonathan Toews capped a four-goal second period, and the Chicago Blackhawks rallied to beat the St. Louis Blues, 5-3, Monday at Scottrade Center.

Corey Crawford made 31 saves for the Blackhawks, who were coming off a shootout win at home against Pittsburgh on Sunday. They have won three of four overall.

"Anything less than two points is unacceptable," Toews said. "It's a confidence builder to get two in a row. These are games we need."

With the victory, Chicago created a five-team logjam between the seventh and 11th spots in the Western Conference standings. St. Louis has 63 points, five fewer than the Blackhawks.

Andy McDonald and Brad Boyes had given the Blues a 2-0 lead in the opening frame, while Alex Pietrangelo drew St. Louis within a goal in the third period.

Ben Bishop, making his first start of the season for the Blues, was pulled in the second after allowing four goals on 18 shots. Ty Conklin stopped seven shots in relief.

Chicago tallied four times in a 10:22 span in the middle stanza to erase a two-goal deficit.

Viktor Stalberg put home a backhand at 2:18, then Dave Bolland converted a feed from Marian Hossa a minute later. The Blackhawks moved ahead when Patrick Kane snapped a wrister from the right circle that beat Bishop on the far side at 6:29. Toews' power-play goal made it 4-2 at 12:40.

"I would have liked to have that fourth one back, but I have to make a save there and keep the team in the game," Bishop said.

St. Louis trailed 4-3 after Pietrangelo let go a slap shot that deflected in off Crawford at the 8:48 mark of the third period.

The Blues pulled Conklin in favor of an extra skater down the stretch, but their comeback fell shot as Hossa hit the empty net in the waning seconds.

A power-play goal by McDonald put St. Louis on the board 15:04 into the contest. Boyes doubled the advantage at 16:49.

Game Notes

Chicago won consecutive games for the first time since January 16-22...The Blues had their win streak snapped at three games...The Blackhawks improved to 10-15-2 when allowing the first goal...St. Louis forward Brad Winchester played in his 300th career game.






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